The price that we pay

And here I return...Not with a bang but with a shush...I got a not-so-nice review about my last post from someone whose review used to be really important-"There are so many grammatical errors in your post!!! ". I wish I could have understood the symptoms then. Now I know, the trouble isn't with my grammar..The trouble is with me, my surroundings and in a way all of us...And for all that trouble, my grammatical errors are just one of the prices we paid!

I look back and year 2012 has almost been the perfect year for me. So many of my close and not-so-close people have achieved heights. The list includes both my sister and Gautam Gambhir! My closest friend got through almost all colleges where the applications reached ! My neighbourhood aunty got her much awaited daughter-in-law against her son's wish, my father set his beloved garden just as he dreamt and my room-mate got the best review possible at job! Me?? I finally managed to quit my job and that is enough of an achievement for me... So why was I oozing with pessimism in the first paragraph?? Because as economics would say all this came at a price! Much of the price unfortunately was hidden...

Only thing which remains priceless today are the things portrayed at the last line of Mastercard commercials for the rest we have determined a price-Tipu Sultan's sword, Mamata Banerjee's painting and an IPL game we have decided the price of almost everything and we are buying. Strange but true! There was a price we all paid for our so called success whether in economic affairs, career or love life. Ask Manmahon Singh about the price he paid for 8% GDP dream and greater economic disparity is the answer. Ask Sachin Tendulkar the price he paid for his success and he will say never-ending public scrutiny/trial/finger-pointing everyday for 20 years... So what price are we commoners paying for our little successes??

In this constant run for success we often don't realise we are leaving things behind, things which at a point used to be so important to us. The son today doesn't have enough time to talk to his father but has hours of time to chat on phone because his girlfriend is his success. He doesn't have time to go out with family but will take out a few hours daily for Facebook, after all you cannot succeed in today's world without socialising. The hot-shot banker today will spend 12 hours at work, 2 hours at lunch/dinner with clients and he will rise at the cost of a child who waits patiently to see his father only to sleep off by the time he is back. Her mom would be her world before but now she is no-one, she has her great group of friends to rely on.

We are running fast and we want results. We are not thinking and hell we care about thinking because we are winning. We are getting our dream job, our dream colleges and that girl/guy we always wanted! Behind lies that old lady in school who taught me the basic addition so that we don't have problems in managing the millions in our bank. That Ramu-kaka who taught us how to walk, we don't even remember his face. That friend's marriage anniversary, we don't remember because Facebook doesn't show it so what he would save the few rupees of his pocket-money every day just to buy me a birthday gift. That old friend who took hours to teach us probability so that we get our dream , we don't need to know her as she doesn't fit in our high class society plus she is of no use now! Our ex-girlfriends who would always show us the hidden opportunities in the problems of life and would do so much for our single smile, but she is EX right?? We have a new one..

Want to turn-back? This success we are seeking is just a one way street and no about turns allowed. But you are allowed to stop and turn back to check what you lost. Most things you would see behind are the things featuring in the last line of Mastercard commercials-priceless!

Selfish?? Is that the term you used. Please don't be so lenient with yourself....